Refrigerator



J. T. WHALEN Dec. 28, 1937.

REFRIGERATOR Filed June 10, 1956 YMM ATTORNEY S BY WM Dec. 28, 1937. J. 'r. WHALEN REFRIGERATOR Filed June 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g, BY 9 W A' I' TORNEYS J. T. WHALEN Dec. 28, 1937.

REFRIGERATOR Filed June 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I yywzw Y 2 rMd/M ATTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1937. J. T. WHALEN REFRIGERATOR Filed June 10, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 y f I l VENTOR g W ,ZTTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1937. J. 'r. WHALEN 2,103,885

REFRIGERATOR Filed June 10, 1936 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v v 7M? W ATTORNEY$ Patented Dec. 28, 1931 1 UNITED STATE REFRIGERATOR m '1". Whalen, New York, N. Y.

Application June 10,

9 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in refrigerators and more particularly to such improvements looking to increasing the capacity and accessibility of household refrigerators.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator showing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the support having track-ways;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of one of the articlesupporting or storing members;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing a diiferent form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a detached, perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the central part of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation showing a different form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line III-4B of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a part of the shelf structure shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective detail of one of the article-supporting or storing members shown in Fi 9.

The main objects of the invention are to provide in a refrigerator of any given total cubic content practically maximum capacity of storage, together with enhanced convenience in handling, for the number, size and shape of articles that may be in the refrigerator at any time, and for maintaining these conditions notwithstanding changes in the number, size and shape of stored articles from time to time, said objects of invention being accomplished by interchangeably varying the area, level and headroom of the various shelves and supports in practically, all parts of the storage space within the refrigerator. The no invention provides a plurality of supporting mem- 1936, Serial N0. 84,414

bers in side by side position and interchangeable with respect to each other and to supporting means on the refrigerator walls, said members having article-supporting surfaces of different areas and of such shape and size as to providediflerent available heights or headway capacities approximately just suificient for the articles stored at any time in any part of the refrigerator. By arranging or rearranging the supporting members to best advantage a maximum of articlesupporting areas and a minimum of waste headroom, together with increased accessibility or handling convenience, may be realized. The present preferred embodiment comprises a pinrality of article-supporting devices of different areas, arranged side by side and also one above another as required or convenient, and carried directly or indirectly from the refrigerator walls, and shaped and proportioned, and also combinable to also provide difierent amounts or depths of headroom, dependent on the size and height of the articles to be stored. These supporting devices may be nested so as to provide a pinrality of supporting areas at different levels and in vertical alinement and supported from the same points or levels in the refrigerator walls. In accordance with one feature of the invention, the various article-supporting devices may be independently moved into and out of the refrigerator space to enhance convenience in withdrawing and inserting articles. Further objects and features will be described later herein and it will be understood that the foregoing general de'- scription and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory, but are notrestrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 5 an embodiment of certain features of the invention, whereby a plurality of articlesupporting or storing members are supported on a track-way structure which is itself supported on a refrigerator shelf, which may be of ordinary construction, the various supporting areas being in vertical alinement and individually slidable on the track-way into and out of the refrigerator, and preferably the track-way itself is likewise slidable inwardly and outwardly on the refrigerator shelf.

In the embodiment of said figures, a double trackway structure is provided above and below the refrigerator shelf, a plurality of article-supporting members, with their article-supporting areas at different levels, being slidably mounted in the upper track-way, and independently slidable thereon, a plurality of article-supporting members being slidably mountable in and suspended from the lower track-way structure. All the article-supporting members are interchangeable, and may beof'othefshapes and sizes than those shown.

In. said embodied form, a refrigerator I is shown with the door 2 thereof open, showing embodied form of track-way shown in Figures 1 to 5, that is the double form already referred to, and in the upper track-way a side track member I6 is shown having track-ways I1 and I3 formed therein, also a corresponding side member I9 having track-ways 20 and 2I formed therein. Suitable cross pieces 24, 25 and 23 connect the side rails I6 and I9 across their ends and at the middle part of their length. Similar side rails 21 and 23 for the lower track-way having, respectively, track-ways 29 and 30 and 3I and 32, are arranged to be positioned beneath the refrigerator shelf, and are provided in like manner with cross bars 33, 34 and 35.

At their outer ends, the two track-ways are hinged together, this being done by means of a pair of angled lugs 39 and 40 extending downwardly from cross-bar 23 and a like pair of lugs M and 42 extending upwardly from crossbar 35 of the lower track-way. A hinge or pivot rod 43 is mounted in apertures in the four lugs to permit the upper and lower track-ways to be opened apart, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2; and closed together as shown in solid lines in that figure. The track-way structure in its open position is slipped inwardly with the refrigerator shelf between the two opened parts, and they are then closed together and fastened in horizontal position with the refrigerator shelf between them. The fastening means, as shown, comprises a pair of lugs 49 and 50 extending downwardly from cross-bar 24 of the upper trackway, and a corresponding pair of lugs 5| and 52 extending upwardly from the cross-bar 33 of the lower track-way, the respective pairs of lugs being fastened together by bolts 53 and 54. Similar lug and bolt fastenings may be provided at the intermediate cross-bars 25 and 34, are indicated by reference numeral 55, and need not be described in further detail. Suitable alining and steadying devices are provided on the inner pairs of cross-bars and as shown a lug 59 having a recess 60 therein extends downwardly from cross-bars 24 and 25 to embrace one of the rods of the refrigerator shelf to prevent the lateral displacement of the track-way, and a lug GI extends upwardly from the cross-bar 33 to bear against the bottom side of one of the shelf rods to prevent vertical loose motion of the track-way structure.

In Figs. 1 and 2, an article-storing device 39 is shown slidably mounted in the track-ways I8, 2| at the level of the track-ways having an article-supporting area I0, and side rods 'II and 12 intended to keep the articles away from the extreme side edges and from interference with the upper article-supporting device which is independently slidable in the track-ways. The upper alined article-supporting device I4 has an open cross-barred article-supporting area, 15 and protecting side rails I6 and 11. Its supports, such as rods I3 fixed thereto either side, extend downwardly and connect, respectively. with horizontal rods 30 and 3i, preferably part of a rectangular frame, and run in the track-ways I1 and I3. An article-storing device 33 is slidably mounted in, and suspended from, the lowermost track-way 30, 3i, the frame 34 running in the.

track-ways. Supporting rods 35 extend downwardly from frame 34 and form the open crossbar supporting area 33. The entire track-way structure with all its article-supporting devices is slidable to and fro for-half the width of the shelf 9, as will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2. While only one such structure is shown in Fig. 1, it will be clear that a plurality of them could be mounted side by side at a common general level and would provide independent side by side supporting areas, interchangeable to provide different supporting areas side by side and in vertical alinement also, with varying amounts of headroom as might be required while at the same time providing a practical maximum of shelf area with very little wasted headroom.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, a somewhat different embodiment is shown, wherein the slidable trackstructure is provided for a plurality of nested and vertically alined article carriers, with their supporting areas at different levels, which are slidably mounted in the track structure, and the track structure itself is slidable entirely into and out of a refrigerator shelf which may otherwise be of ordinary type. The refrigerator shelf 30 is shown adapted to extend across the interior of the refrigerator and to be supported at a fixed level on the interior walls thereof. The shelf has a centrally located opening in which the slidable track-way is mounted, and at its rear edge the shelf has a frame rod 9I, and at its front end it has a U-shaped reinforcing frame member 92 which may, if desired, be mounted as a bail in the members 93. The track-ways 34 and 95 in this construction are connected together and spaced apart by rods 95 and 91 at either end of the tracks, and positioned so as not to interfere with the track-ways. The article carriers IM and I02 are shown siidably mounted in the two upper track-ways, and the article carrier I03 slidably suspended from the lowermost track-way, all three being in vertical alinement, but with their respective article-supporting areas I04 and I05 and I06 at different levels. By having the supporting means which are fixed to and extend from the supporting areas, such as rods I01 and I08, of different lengths, the relative levels of the supporting areas, and the headroom above each may be'varied to suit the articles that may be stored on any of the areas at any particular time. A plurality of these structures may be provided on one general level, if desired, and the size, level and relative positions of supporting areas, and the headroom above the various areas, may be widely varied to give maximum storage, great accessibility with minimum waste of headroom.

In Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, a somewhat different embodiment is shown, omitting the feature of the detachable slidable track-ways. In this embodiment a general shelf structure comprises a supporting frame having two spaced-apart supporting rods H4 and H5, with a plurality of spacing and supporting posts II3 between them, is adapted to fit within the refrigerator and to rest upon suitable supports III fixed to the refrigerator walls with the rectangular rods practically abutting the inner walls of the refrigerator. A plurality of article-supporting or storing devices are shown, having supporting areas all II 8' and having upright supports H9 fixed to and extending therefrom and provided near their outer ends with means adapted to cooperate with the rods I I4 and I I to support the article-storing devices either above or below the rods I I4 and I I5. Suitable means are provided for supporting and interchanging the article-supporting devices, and for this purpose lugs I20 are fixed to the opposite or unattached ends of the supporting rods 9, and are supported upon either frame I or H5 and are slidable therealong, the members I I4 and H5 being both supports and guideways. Thus the relative location of the supporting areas may be changed by sliding loaded supporting devices along the members H4 and II 5 while light or unloaded supporting devices can be lifted out. In Fig. 9, the article-storing devices are shown arranged side-by-side, at different levels and giving four different amounts of headroom above the supporting area. It will be clear that the illustrated arrangement is exemplary, and that the article-storing devices are interchangeable with other sizes and forms, and by varying their sizes various ones may be also nested so as to give a plurality of vertically alined supporting areas at different levels, at any desired point or location in the refrigerator, and to provide sideby-side supporting areas of different size and with varying amounts of headroom, as best suited to give maximum storage for the time being. The shelves, if desired, may be completely pulled out so that the comestibles will be completely outside the cabinet. Also, if desired, by employing suitable mechanism, the food containers could be rotated to positions entirely outside the cabinet, irrespective of the size and shape of the containers and the variations in the size thereof.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator, a general shelf structure extending across the interior, and supported from the side walls, of the refrigerator, said shelf structure comprising a plurality of separate members having interchangeable horizontal supporting areas disposable side by side, and having upright supports attached to and extending from said horizontal areas, said supports on the various shelf members being of different lengths, whereby contiguous side by side supporting areas may be at different levels with selectively variable amounts of headroom, said separate members being supportable by general shelf structure.

2. ma refrigerator, a general shelf structure extending across the interior, and supported from the side walls, said shelf structure comprising a plurality of separate members having horizontal supporting areas disposable side by side, and having upright supports attached to and extending from said horizontal areas, and connections wherebytwo contiguous side by side supporting areas may be one above and one below the level at which the shelf structure is supported with free headroom above each of said areas, said separate members being supportable by general shelf structure.

3. In a refrigerator, a general shelf structure extending across the interior, and supported from the side walls, said shelf structure comprising a plurality of contiguous separate members having horizontal supporting areas disposable side by side, and having upright supports attached to and extending from said horizontal areas, said contiguous members being interchangeable to vary the level of contiguous horizontal supporting areas and to provide a plurality of areas in vertical alinement in accordance with the number, size and shape of articles to be stored, said separate members being supportable by general shelf structure.

4. In a refrigerator, a general shelf structure supported on the irmer Walls, and a plurality of side by side article-supporting devices, interchangeably supportable from said general shelf structure, said devices having horizontal supporting areas and upright supporting members fixed to and extending from the supporting areas and supportable at their opposite ends from said general shelf structure, whereby supporting areas may be provided at different, desired levels with respect to said general shelf structure to vary the headroom above said supporting areas.

5. In a refrigerator having a general shelf structure supported on the inner walls, a shelf located at a permanent level therewithin, and a plurality of article-supporting devices, concurrently supportable from said general shelf structure, said devices having horizontal supporting areas and upright supporting members fixed to and extending from said supporting areas and supportable at their opposite ends by said general shelf structure, whereby supporting areas may be concurrently provided at different desired levels with respect to said general shelf structure to vary the headroom above said supporting areas.

6. In a refrigerator having a general shelf structure supported on the inner walls, a shelf member located at a permanent level therewithin, and a plurality of article-supporting devices, concurrently supportable from said general shelf structure, said devices having horizontal supporting areas and upright supporting members fixed to and extending from said supporting areas, and supportable at their opposite ends by said general shelf structure, with one supporting device nested within another to present supporting areas in vertical alinement and at different levels.

7. In a refrigerator, a track-way, means for supporting the track-way from the refrigerator walls, a plurality of interchangeable article-carriers slidably supported upon said track-way and detachable from the track-way, said article-carriers having supporting areas at different distances from the track-way to provide varying headroom above diflerentcarriers.

8. In a. refrigerator, 9. track-way, means for supporting the track-way from the refrigerator walls, a plurality of interchangeable article-carriers slidably supported upon said track-way and detachable from the track-way, said article-carriers having supports of different heights, and means upon said supports for slidably engaging the track-way to provide varying headroom abovev different carriers.

9. In a refrigerator, supports on the refrigerator walls, a track-way removably carried by said supports, and a, plurality of article-carriers arrangeable side by side and also one above another and slidably and removably mounted on said track-way.

JOHN T. WHALEN. 

